The Use of Dimethyl Sulphoxide, Glycerol, and Reconstituted Skim Milk For The Preservation of Ram Spermatozoa I. The tonicity and toxicity of Dimethyl Sulphoxide and Reconstituted Skim Milk At 30 and 5°C

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Abstract
The viability of ram spermatozoa in milk and buffered saline diluents containing dimethyl sulphoxide and in milk diluents alone was investigated during incubation studies at 30 and 5[degree] C. Dimethyl sulphoxide did not contribute to the tonicity of a diluent. Dimethyl sulphoxide (5% v/v) or glycerol in a diluent depressed spermatozoal activity during incubation at 30 or 5[degree] C. Dimethyl sulphoxide retarded motility more than glycerol, especially with incubation at 5[degree] C, while glycerol rendered a greater proportion of cells immotile than did dimethyl sulphoxide, this effect being significant only after incubation at 30[degree] C. Reconstituted skim milk was better at 9% (w/v) than at 7 or 11% (w/v) at both incubation temperatures. Spermatozoa do not survive as well in a reconstituted skim milk diluent prepared for only 4 hr. as in a diluent prepared and stored at 5[degree] C for 1 or 2 days before use. Heating to 85[degree] C for 5 min. removed the toxic factor in pasteurized milk but had no effect on the reconstituted skim milk diluent.